The magistrates, &c. of a corporate town. Corpus sine ratione. Freemen of a corporation’s work; neither strong nor handsome.
Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.
Corporation * CossetNathan Bailey's 1736 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang
John S. Farmer's collection of canting songs and slang rhymes